10 Things about Seat that you didn’t know

It most likely does not have the pedigree of other major car brands with as much tradition.

It links to history as some of those seen in these lines on previous occasions, but it does have the potential to become one of the most iconic automobile manufacturers in the world.

A Seat’s history should not be forgotten and should be made more widely known.

It is not for nothing that it is the essential Spanish company in the automotive industry and, as a result, of a nation with a deep-rooted history and passion for the field of work it specializes in.

However, over time, it has become internationalized, and the people who manage the company are not cautious; however, they have given it a sophisticated touch while it is still a part of the Volkswagen group.

In this issue of Motorbli, we are going to tell you ten things about those from Martorell that you were unaware of, and we guarantee that they will surprise you.

From Martorell to the rest of the world: ten oddities and unexpected facts about Seat

After we have finished the necessary introduction to this new post, it is time to put our feet up for good and reveal all of the mysteries, anecdotes, and other details you have most likely overlooked whenever you have heard anything about Seat.

1. An acronym followed by another acronym but not a translation

More people than one might believe that the name Seat is due to the translation of the word “seat” in English, a source of inspiration to which other manufacturers resorted in its beginnings but which has nothing to do with reality.

In addition, the term alludes to the acronym SEAT, which stands for Sociedad Espaola de Turismo.

It was established in 1950, the same year the Formula One world championship was set.

It was created due to an initiative by Francisco Franco’s government to motorize the country.

In this regard, it is comparable to other companies, such as its soul brother Volkswagen.

Its connection with Catalonia can be traced back to when the first factory was built in Barcelona’s Zona Franca neighborhood.

This location was advantageous because it provided access to the port of Barcelona and favorable tax conditions and communication conditions.

As a result, shipping components and raw materials via sea was a straightforward process.

2. Intimate connection with Fiat

Although there is no longer any connection, affiliation, or similarity between the two companies, Seat was initially very closely associated with Fiat when it first started in the business.

In addition, the company had worked for hand in hand with the Italian industry from the time it was established until 1984 to manufacture its automobiles.

Seat’s first automobile was the Fiat/Seat 1400. This was because Fiat supplied them with the necessary technology, meaning that the car was already manufactured in Italy and only required the assembly of factory workers.

Some people, likely in jest but also because of this fact, translated the acronym SEAT into Spanish as “You’ll Always Be Tightening Screws,” which means “You’ll Always Be Tightening Screws.”

It was a sedan to transport government officials, ministers, patients, and travelers (when it worked as a cab).

Due to all of these factors, we were required to wait for some time before we could view the first vehicle produced by Martorell.

During this time, we could consider other models produced under a license from Fiat, such as the Seat 850.

3. A comparison of the Seat Ibiza in its former and current forms

It wasn’t until 1984 that we were introduced to the Seat Ibiza, the first vehicle to be conceived, designed, and manufactured by the Spanish company, without any contribution from Fiat.

Because of the completion of the Martorell Technical Center in 1975, this was made possible.

The Martorell Technical Center’s mission was to foster in-house development and research.

The utilization of Inducar’s bodywork in producing the Seat Sport 1200 Bocanegra was not well received by Fiat, so the company instructed its subsidiary to build the Seat 128 3p using the same engines.

The accompanying advertising slogan for this model was “Coupé, Berlina, Break, three times Seat.”

The final straw that broke the camel’s back was the redesign of the Fiat Rimo to sell it as the Seat Ronda. This case went all the way to the European courts for alleged plagiarism of the Spanish language.

Still, those in charge of imparting justice in the European Court of Competition did not see it as being a case of plagiarism.

4. The Seat 600, a representation of the advancement of technology

Franco’s Spain began to move away from the economic model of autarky at the beginning of the 1960s and did not return to it until the end of the 1950s.

During this time, the country gradually opened itself up to the rest of the world.

This diversification was made possible mainly due to the success of the Seat 600, which first went on sale in 1957 and has enjoyed widespread acclaim among Spanish nationals ever since.

Many people referred to it as the “Seta,” and it was one of the primary actors in the real motorization of the country and the expansion of Seat into new horizons: in 1965, the brand was exported to Colombia, and by 1968, production had reached one million units.

During this time, Seat achieved a market share of over 20%. It had a price tag of approximately 65,000 pesetas at the time, equivalent to almost 400 euros in today’s currency.

It inspired a solid emotional connection among several generations of motorists.

5. The one-millionth vehicle was delivered to the apartment of a staff member.

To recognize the company’s achievement of producing one million units, Seat decided to give away one of its vehicles, the 124, to each of its employees.

A young man started work in the afternoon and was declared the contest winner.

However, because he needed to keep putting money away, he did not have a driver’s license, and he was not in a position to get one either.

To make matters even more complicated, he had recently tied the knot, even though he was still residing with his parents.

In light of the circumstances above, the organization concluded that the entrance of this young man’s new house would benefit from an investment of an amount equal to the price at which Seat 124 was valued.

You should be aware that it is preserved in the collection of historic cars of the Spanish brand, in case anyone is interested in seeing it someday. The group is open to the public.

6. Volkswagen takes over

After disagreements with Fiat and its disengagement, Volkswagen acquired Seat.

The Italians were somewhat overawed by the union mobilizations that had taken place throughout the 1970s, coinciding with the acquisition of the Landaben (Pamplona) facilities.

These events took place at the same time. The Italian company was forced to sell its shares to the National Institute of Industry (INI) due to the conflicts of events.

Martorell was fortunate in that the current leader of its conglomerate took an interest in the 1980s within a reasonable amount of time after the decade’s prominence.

It should come as no surprise that the workforce that Seat, a Spanish company, was able to offer was less expensive than the German workforce that they were accustomed to managing.

Finally, Volkswagen completed its Seat acquisition in June 1990 after having completed an initial purchase of a majority stake in the company in June 1986.

The operation also resulted in the company’s name change, which is now known as Seat S.A. rather than Sociedad Espaola de Automóviles de Turismo S.A.

At that point, it had begun to brag about the “German technology” it possessed in advertisements. In modern times, their automobiles share platforms, mechanics, and software with one another.

7. The history of Cupra and its significance

It was in the year 1996 when the idea that would later become the Cupra brand was first conceived.

This expression is an abbreviation of the expression Cup Racing, and its appearance results from a process based on an idea.

That idea is to provide drivers with a street car that can provide them with the same level of performance that they can experience when they are behind the wheel of a sports car.

It was a strategy to get a critical demographic to dig deeper into their pockets and spend more money than they had intended when considering purchasing a Seat.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the market prices of the Formentor or Born are noticeably higher than those of the equivalent products sold under their respective parent brands.

8. It happened during the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992

Seat was in a position of leadership during the most significant sporting event that has ever taken place in Spain.

In addition, it produced its very first electric car with this momentous occasion in mind when it did so.

This model was responsible for starting the marathon and tracking the competition thanks to its autonomy of 65 kilometers, the half-ton of weight implied by the batteries it carried on board, and its power charger located in the front grille of the vehicle.

Its involvement went even further, as demonstrated by the fact that it supplied the organization of the Barcelona Olympics with approximately 2,000 cars to transport athletes, journalists, and organizers.

This culminated in the production of the Seat Toledo Podium, the most luxurious model of this automobile, which included a landline telephone in addition to a fax machine as standard equipment.

9. Los Estopa was under her employment

Those of you who follow us from other parts of the world may not be aware of this, although those who read in Spanish certainly are.

Before beginning their journey to stardom in the music industry, the duo Estopa was employed by Seat at the Martorell factory.

The Muoz brothers, David and José Manuel skipped out on school at a young age, and while they were working various jobs to make a living, they came across this employment opportunity.

They worked hard to produce components for the automobiles shipped out of the factory, and some of their songs, like “La raja de tu falda,” were influenced by the time they spent in that environment (The slit in your skirt).

In addition, they torch a Seat Ibiza in the music video for their single “Fuego,” which ensures that their connection to the brand will not be severed.

10. Felipe VI, King of Spain, owned an Ibiza.

Upon reaching 18, the current King of Spain, Felipe VI, was presented with a gift from his father, Juan Carlos, in the form of a Seat Ibiza.

After being paid off, the vehicle was returned to the brand, where it was given a thorough makeover, and a unique spot in the factory was set aside for it.

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